LAYERED LUXURY: HOW TO USE RUGS TO ADD DEPTH AND TEXTURE TO EVERY ROOM
Modern rugs boast a remarkable ability to unify a room. From anchoring furniture and defining spaces to weaving texture, colour, and interest into a space, rugs are your interior design ally. Learn how to layer luxuriously with our guide to selecting and styling sophisticated rugs for every room in your home.
Size guide: Appraise your space
Once you know the general rules for sizing, whether you’re looking for the right rug size for a living room or a hallway, you’ll choose a design that brings balance to your home:
● For living rooms and other spaces with seating areas, measure the floor space of the seating arrangement and choose a living room rug that is large enough for all the furniture to place its front legs on.
● In bedrooms, choose a rug with enough width to extend beyond the sides of the bed for ultimate underfoot comfort.
● In rooms with tables or desks and chairs, choose a rug that fully accommodates these items of furniture.
● If you’re placing a large rug in a living room or styling rugs in hallways, maintain at least 46cm (18 inches) of floor space around the rug to prevent the space from feeling cluttered.
Contrast with your furniture
You can use rugs to pull a design scheme together by picking up on colours, textures, and prints used throughout the space. To add depth to your space, consider playing with contrasts. If you have a silky-smooth leather sofa in your living room, inject textural interest by opting for a plush or deep-pile rug. Alternatively, if you have a decadent velvet sofa, consider pairing it with a tighter weave or rattan rug for a pleasing juxtaposition. Likewise, if you have plain fabric dining chairs, pep up your space with a patterned dining room rug, or balance out patterned upholstery or soft furnishings in the living room or bedroom with an airy, neutral rug.
Lavish layering
Layering rugs on hardwood and tiled floors not only creates a snug walkway for your feet but also softens the aesthetic. You can push this sensorial soothing further by layering rugs on top of each other. This is an excellent option in larger living rooms and bedrooms, drawing the eye to focal points such as your seating arrangement or bed. It's also a winner in open-plan spaces, especially if you have chosen a minimalist design and want to add interest.
Select a large living room rug in a neutral tone as the base, then layer it with a smaller, patterned rug on top. Maximise dimension by contrasting the textures, pile length, weave, and materials between your two rugs.
You can use rug layering at any scale. Layer area rugs, choosing a smaller size print for your top rug to prevent the space from feeling too busy. You can also incorporate smaller seating areas, such as a reading nook. Here, the small living room rug you place on top can make a significant impact with a larger print, drawing the eye to the area.
Ensure your rugs don't feel like an afterthought by pairing them thoughtfully with their surroundings and layering them for a luxurious, contemporary effect.